The feeling was noticeable. It was tingly—difficult to ignore. Whenever gods were beseeched, whether they went to the mortal or not, they knew. Dagur frowned and immediately stood up. As soon as he did, the others at the table looked at him.

"Going somewhere, Ares?" Alvin asked, expression harsh.

"Yeah, I am. This isn't going well anyway."

The redhead felt heat coming off Stoick's gaze.

"I don't call these meetings unless it's important," the king stated.

"I know, but my team knows I'm here and they wouldn't be beseeching me if it wasn't an emergency."

Fishlegs and Astrid visibly tensed, but Stoick was unmoved.

"They're mortals," he said. "What we're discussing affects all of mortality. They can wait."

Despite his words, Dagur did not think that they could. He shook his head. That tingling got stronger until it felt like it was burning him from the inside.

"No, something's wrong."

Before he could go, Stoick spoke again.

"If you leave right now, you'll be in contempt of this council."

Dagur saw the traces of a smile on Alvin's face. Regardless, he could not think about that for long. The war god shrugged.

"Too bad. I was about to break my record."

With that, he vanished. Lightning sparkled on the king's hands. Stoick glared after the other immortal, but Dagur was long gone. He returned to Iolcos, appearing in front of Hiccup. The inventor's eyes were watery. A sense of dread hit Dagur as he looked at the warrior in Hiccup's arms. Hookfang was lying beside him. He was trying to peck Snotlout's arm in hopes of a response, but the boy did nothing. Devastated, he rested his head in the warrior's hand. Toothless laid near them, head on Hiccup's shoulder.

"No," Dagur thought.

It was too soon. They were so young. They were supposed to live for years longer, maybe even decades.

"H-he's dead," Hiccup said, head low.

The immortal did not say anything, but he bent down. His eyes moved over the warrior, searching for a wound. Hiccup did not make him ask.

"It was a monster. I-I don't even know what kind."

Hiccup began to glare at the ground. That beast had killed his cousin and for what? They had never even seen the monster before. What did Snotlout do to deserve this?

"I'll kill it," Hiccup said, voice threatening.

Dagur's eyes widened in surprise. The boy stood up, hands balled into fists.

"I'll kill it!" he yelled. He started going towards Toothless. "Come on. We can still track it down."

"Hiccup, wait," Dagur stated.

"Wait? We can't do that. If we do, it'll get away!"

"Did this monster have a dragon tail and a serpent's head?"

The mortal's glare changed to an expression of confusion. "Yeah."

"And it only looked at Snotlout?"

"I-I guess. I didn't see it, but how could its eyes…"

"It's the basilisk. It can do this to mortals."

Hiccup was undeterred. "So? When we fought against Medusa, we couldn't use our eyes then either. If I have to fight with my eyes covered, I don't care."

"You can't kill her. She belongs to Demeter."

The boy paled. "Demeter's our enemy too?"

"I don't know," Dagur admitted. "I…I don't think so. She looked really angry with Poseidon at the meeting. He probably forced her to give him control of the basilisk."

Nothing was making sense to Hiccup at that moment. He was too distraught. His throat burned horribly, but he did not want to cry. He just wanted to avenge his cousin.

"I don't care if the basilisk belongs to Demeter or not. I can't forget what it did."

Dagur got quiet. There was a way—a solution.

"You don't have to."

"Then you're going to help me find it?"

"I'm going to help you get Snotlout back."

Hiccup was speechless, but Dagur calling his name the second time snapped him back to reality.

"Get on Toothless's back," the god instructed. "We're returning to Berk."

Nodding quickly, Hiccup hopped on Toothless's saddle. Dagur put Snotlout over his shoulder and Hookfang flew with them. Their travel was fast and they arrived in Berk shortly. Dagur went up to their home, not bothering to knock. Spitelout was in the middle of a meal. He nearly scowled at the intrusion, then saw the god and bowed.

"Get up," Dagur ordered. "We need you to watch over his body."

Perplexed, Spitelout raised his head. When he did, he saw Dagur set Snotlout down on a bed. The man's chest tightened.

"Boy-o?"

"A basilisk killed him."

Spitelout failed to keep the horror off his face. Before he even knew it, his cheeks were stained with tears.

"He can't be dead!"

The father rushed over to the bed, hugging his son close to him.

"You have to get up, Snotlout," he pleaded. "I know you can."

"He can't yet, but he will," Dagur said.

His words only confused Spitelout more. He glanced at Hiccup for an answer, but the boy was not sure either. The only reason Hiccup was not in a similar state was because he believed in his friend. If Dagur said they could get Snotlout back, they could.

"We're going to the Underworld," the god informed them.

Spitelout's eyes widened as Hiccup's eyes narrowed with determination.

"Let's go."

He started to leave the hut, but Spitelout caught his arm. The man's expression shocked him. He looked…scared.

"You can't," he said. "I can't lo…" Spitelout took a deep breath. "I don't want to lose you too."

"He'll make it back," Dagur stated.

"How do I know that? You let my son die."

Spitelout's emotions were too high for him to consider the possible ramifications of his statement. Dagur was not in the mood to punish him for his outburst. He agreed with him too much. He had failed the cousins. It was a miserable feeling.

"That's why I'll be bringing them both back."

Hiccup moved his arm away from Spitelout. "If we can save him, I'm going. I'll just be sitting here, losing my mind if I stay."

He went with Dagur to the door.

"Be safe."

Turning, Hiccup looked at Spitelout and nodded his head. "Thanks."

Closing the door, some of the bravado left the inventor. He glanced at Dagur unsurely.

"Is there a way to enter the Underworld without dying?"

"Yes, but we need to go to Cimmeria first. It's the closest place to the Underworld world in the mortal realm. I can't just bring you there."

Hiccup got back on Toothless's saddle. "Then I guess we're off to Cimmeria."

Leading the way, Dagur began bringing his friend to the new land. As they traveled, Snotlout was waking up. The boy rubbed his eyes, feeling strange. He was no longer in pain. Actually, he did not feel much of anything. It was peculiar. When Snotlout opened his eyes, he yelped. He was no longer in Iolcos. The warrior was surrounded by strangers. They seemed to move slowly, walking together in unison towards a body of water. Some of them were despairing.

"No!" one cried. "This isn't right! I'm supposed to have an obol!"

"An obol?" Snotlout wondered. "Why would he need one of…"

Suddenly, memories flushed back into his mind. He recalled seeing the monster and its eyes looking at him. He remembered wondering if the Arae had cursed him or not. The warrior finally got his answer.

"I'm…dead?"

It could not be right, but he did not have a better explanation. That was why he was in this gloomy place. It was why he was no longer in so much pain and why his friends were nowhere to be seen. Snotlout stood where he was, not knowing what to do. Some people brushed past him, but he did not say or do anything. Despite the large crowd, the Underworld felt lonely.

"I didn't want to die," he said sadly.

Without an obol for himself, Snotlout could not do much. He was almost glad. This gave him time to think. The last thing he wanted to do was go towards that ferryman. A large figure with a bald head and dark eyes was standing by a skiff on the water. Whenever his arms were not crossed, one was outstretched to take obols from the newly dead. Then he would row them off too far away for Snotlout to see. It was like they vanished completely. Somehow, he was not even sure if they went into the brightness or darkness. All he could tell was that it was a mystery to him. He just wanted to go back to his team. The warrior had so much more that he wanted to do with his life. Why did it have to be taken from him?

"It's okay," someone said. "The first day's always the worst, but it gets better. Just take a deep breath."

Snotlout did as instructed. It started to help. He did not feel like he was panicking as badly.

"Are you Heracles?"

Shocked, the warrior turned to his new helper. One of the other souls was looking at him curiously.

"Uh, yeah. Have we met before? You know…before whatever happened?"

"No," the woman said. "I've just heard you being mentioned."

"Was it by one of the other dead people?"

The deceased shook her head. "No, Charon over there said it once or twice. It was a low grumble, but I still heard. I hear a lot these days."

Snotlout glanced towards the ferryman again. "You don't have an obol either?"

"I don't. I'm the last of my family. Nobody probably knew when I died. I've been here for a while."

The warrior's expression turned sad. At the same time, he was horrified. This could be his fate. Heracles, doomed to spend eternity walking on the other side of the River Styx. Maybe the small pleasures he would get out of his afterlife were to be the peculiar things souls and gods said. Then the boy realized what his new companion had stated.

"Wait, Charon was talking about me? Have you heard him mention Daedalus?"

"I don't remember. If he did, he was really quiet…I think he did once."

"Did you see any Arae get sent out of here and into the mortal world?"

"I did!" cried the soul excitedly. "No one believed me when I said that. They never do, but I did."

Snotlout frowned, turning to the immortal by the water. "Then we were right," he growled. "Hades is our enemy too. I don't even know how to warn the others."

"Well, sometimes, souls trapped here like you and I can reach the mortals. We can come to them in dreams."

"Really?"

"I can teach you if you'd like."

Snotlout grinned. "Thanks! That would be great."

"No problem. I don't have much else to do."

After a pause, the boy spoke again. "You know me, but I don't know you."

She extended her ghostly hand. "I'm Cassandra."

Snotlout smiled and shook her hand. While they continued to speak, the team was arriving in Cimmeria. Immediately, Dagur turned himself into a boar. He began digging away at the ground with his tusks.

"Why are you doing that?" Hiccup asked.

"We need a trench. Get some tools."

Obliging, Hiccup started making a shovel out of some sticks, stones, and rope. Even the animals helped as much as they could. In relief, the group saw water start to appear. Hookfang flew back. The water looked muddy and had a stench. Dagur did not move away from it.

"Toothless and Hookfang should stay here," he said. "You can too if you want."

Hiccup shook his head. "No, I said I'd do this and I mean it."

"Then stay close. There are going to be a lot of souls as soon as we enter. If we see Snotlout, don't get freaked out. You won't be able to understand him."

"How come?"

"Not sure. I never asked Hades, but the souls don't seem to talk in any language living mortals can understand. You have to let them drink blood first and if I know our Snotty, he's not going to do that."

Hiccup shuddered at the thought of drinking blood. He started walking behind Dagur, letting him lead the way through the water. It almost did not seem like it was real. Whenever he raised his arm out of the water, his tunic would be dry, but the current was strong. Dagur held onto him to keep him from being washed away. At last, the duo stopped. Dagur yoked Hiccup up out of the water and onto the dry ground. The boy jumped back when souls rushed at him. They were saying something, but just as he was warned, he could not understand. Dagur began to shoo the ghosts away from them.

"Hey! Leave us alone! Do we look like we brought any blood for you?"

Disappointed, the souls began to disperse. When they did, Hiccup's eyes moved to two in the back. Cassandra and Snotlout were there. The warrior stared in shock. He started to rush forward, but Cassandra stopped him.

"I have to warn them about Hades!"

"That mortal won't be able to understand you," she explained calmly. "I'm sorry."

"I still have to try."

Snotlout ran over to his friends. "We were right. There's danger everywhere!"

Hiccup regarded his cousin in confusion. Snotlout tried to forcibly turn the inventor's head towards the ferryman, but his hand went right through him.

"Ugh! Being dead sucks!"

"Tell me about it," Cassandra commented, approaching.

She offered a wave to the strangers. They returned the gesture.

"You're better off communicating this way. I tried to warn you that words wouldn't work."

Snotlout glumly nodded. Before he could figure out how to use his hands to explain everything, Hiccup spoke.

"I don't know if you can understand me, but we're going to get you out of here. Just give us a little bit of time."

Shocked, Snotlout nodded. He had so many questions, but he could not ask any at that time. Dagur looked at Charon, then his friends.

"I'm going to see what I can do."

The war god approached the ferryman. He put on a large smile.

"Rykie! Long time no see."

Charon glared at him. "Why are you here, Ares?"

Dagur shivered. "Icy. I thought you'd be happier to see me. I cause about…what? Half of the mortals who are here to show up? We basically work together."

"What do you want?" the larger immortal questioned harshly.

"Fine, always the serious one. You should learn to lighten up." Dagur gestured behind him. "You've got a new soul and I actually need him back."

"That's not how this works."

"I know it normally isn't, but this is important."

"He's dead. That's it. There's nothing more to it. Leave."

Dagur's smile fell. "I'm not leaving without both of them with me."

Charon took a menacing step forward, but the redhead did not move.

"We aren't in the business of letting souls leave."

"But we do have a business here," a new voice added. "And with any business deal, there needs to be an equal trade for all parties involved."

Dagur looked past Charon and at the lord of the Underworld. His eyes were dark like the other immortal's, but he had more dark hair to match. Hades approached Charon, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Let's not send potential partners away so hastily, Charon," he stated. Hades turned to Dagur. "Ares, we rarely ever speak and you never visit. What troubles you?"

The other god gestured to the cousins again. "I want Heracles's soul to be released. His body hasn't decomposed or anything, so it can go right back to where it was."

"Interesting," the lord said, hand on his goatee. "I can't say that I'm accustomed to you advocating for mortals to live."

"I'm not either."

"Couldn't you find new mortals to be playmates in this game of yours? It seems like you're making quite the scene for someone who'll eventually die."

There was that condescending tone that Dagur always associated with the god. He could not recall a conversation they ever had when Hades did not act like he was a child or fool.

"I know they won't live forever, but I'm not ready for them to die yet."

"Sentimentality is the enemy of immortals, Ares. I had assumed that you knew that."

"I guess I missed that lesson in immortality training," he snarked.

"Evidently."

Dagur clenched his hand into a fist. He was not sure why, but it was always more difficult to control his temper around this god. Poseidon could threaten him all day and he would laugh, but Hades had a way of getting under his skin. Unfortunately, punching was often discouraged as a way to do deals.

"What do you want in return?"

It was not a question Dagur wanted to ask, but he knew that Hades had all the power at that moment. From his expression, the god knew it too.

"Everything that's done has consequences," Hades commented. "Even we immortals are not exempt from these laws. If I were to release your friend, I would not simply be removing a soul from my kingdom. I would call into question the authority I have to keep any of them. It would seem like I showed favoritism. Then what would stop other gods from requesting that their favorite mortals live longer? The Underworld is supposed to be a place that awaits all mortals, regardless of any favor they receive."

"I can pay you twenty obols. That'll more than cover what he would have given you." The god looked around. "You know what, I'll give you obols for all these souls here. More money for you and more time among the living for us. It's a win-win."

Hades seemed to consider that. "No."

"Why not?" Dagur asked, annoyed.

"Because it's too simple. If you pay me, you lose nothing. You don't need money, but I still lose a soul and a margin of credibility."

"Then what do you want?" the war god questioned, exasperated.

"I want a covenant to exist between us."

Dagur's brow raised. "What kind?"

"One which dictates that you will cause a war between kingdoms of my choosing when I request it."

"Becoming a part-time war god, are we?"

"I'd hardly waste my time with such brutal entertainment, but the payment from the dead will cover the audacity that you have to ask me this."

"Which kingdoms?"

"I haven't decided yet."

"They can't be groups that would end in my friends dying. It would ruin the whole point of this."

"I wouldn't dream of creating such a cruel loophole."

Something in his smile made Dagur doubt that, but he lacked a better option.

"You're shifty enough to use this against us."

"I'm merely a businessman."

The war god sighed. "I'll agree to those terms."

"Wonderful," Hades said. "In that case, you may leave."

The immortal snapped his fingers and Hiccup heard Snotlout speaking again.

"I'd have to drink blood?!"

"Well, that's why we didn't bring any," Hiccup said, chuckling and relieved.

Snotlout realized that the other Berkian had heard him and smiled. "I guess we didn't need it after all."

Dagur approached the group. "Nope, it's covered now."

"How'd you do it?"

"Just made a little deal."

"Should we be worried?" Hiccup asked.

Dagur got quiet, shrugging. "Let's get out of here."

The immortal began heading into the water, but Snotlout stopped.

"Wait," he requested. "Since you can make money appear, can you make an obol for Cassandra?"

Dagur looked at the other soul next to his friend. Her expression was one of shock.

"I'm okay," she insisted.

Snotlout shook his head. "Hey, you stayed with me when I was freaking out about being dead." He offered her a smile. "You might not have had anyone when you died, but you do now."

Cassandra smiled in appreciation at him. Her grin widened when Dagur put an obol in her hand.

"Thank you," she said.

She gave Snotlout a hug, then went towards Charon, finally preparing to cross over. Snotlout grinned as he left with his friends. Once they were back in Cimmeria, Hookfang tried to pounce his friend with a hug, but it did not work. The Phoenix let out an angry squawk and attempted in vain to blow fire at him.

"Now, this might be the one thing I'll miss about being dead," Snotlout said, chuckling.

To help, Dagur whacked the soul in the head. Snotlout's jaw dropped in shock.

"Hey! How'd you do that?"

"I'm not a mortal. Plus, you deserve it for stressing us out."

Snotlout heard the sincerity in his voice despite the joking tone. Looking at Hiccup, he could see the sadness in his eyes.

"We were really worried," the inventor admitted. "Spitelout is too."

"Really?" Snotlout asked, shocked.

"I guess we sort of grew attached to having a sidekick," Dagur commented. "Let's hurry up before your body starts getting infested with maggots."

Horror flashed over the boy's face. "It wouldn't happen that fast, would it?"

"Maybe," the redhead teased. "You might be half eaten by the time we get there."

Snotlout looked like he was about to faint and Hiccup got on Toothless's saddle.

"Be nice," he chided lightly. "He's not even alive yet and you're already messing with him."

"I don't want him to think he'll get special treatment just because he died."

Dagur laughed as he turned into a vulture, letting Snotlout hop on as they returned to Berk. Spitelout was still in the room, but he was sitting by the bed. He held one of his son's hands in his own. From the puffiness of his eyes, he had been crying for a while. Suddenly, he jumped up.

"Y-you're back!"

He tried to hug Snotlout, but it did not work.

"We need to get him back in his body," Hiccup explained.

The father moved aside and Snotlout approached the bed. He felt shaken staring at his corpse. His friends could tell. Hiccup gave an encouraging smile and Dagur put a hand on his shoulder. Taking a breath, Snotlout laid down on top of where his body was. He closed his eyes and when they reopened, he did so slowly. The boy peeked one eye open.

"Did it work?"

Snotlout got his answer when Hiccup and Dagur hugged him. The inventor swallowed the lump in his throat.

"We're glad you're back."

"Thanks for bringing me back."

When the duo moved away, Hookfang tackled Snotlout. He fell out of the bed and onto the ground. When Hookfang started pecking him, he yelped.

"Hooky! Stop it! You're going to kill me again!"

Begrudgingly, the bird moved back. Toothless tenderly nuzzled his head against the warrior and Snotlout petted him. The only one who was not near him was Spitelout. He looked unsure on what to do.

"I…I was worried," he admitted.

Going forward, the father embraced his son. Stunned, Snotlout hugged him back. It was the first time that they had ever done this.

"I'm sorry that I pushed you both so hard," Spitelout apologized. "Wh-when I thought you were gone…I don't want either of you to get killed." The man paused, thinking over his words. "Maybe this task of yours should end."

Snotlout pulled back, shaking his head. "It can't."

"But you died, Boy-o."

"And I'm going to again if we don't do anything. We're all going to die and it's not going to be peaceful or in our sleep." Snotlout turned to his friends, concern evident on his face. "Hades is our enemy too. The Arae really were sent out to target us."

Anger built up in Hiccup. "Target you first," he corrected. "Hades wanted to kill you."

"But he let him go," Spitelout commented.

Dagur nodded, expression grim. "Because we made a deal."

"That must have been what he wanted the whole time," Snotlout said. "What do we do now?"

The group got quiet, all worrying.

"Let's return to Iolcos," Hiccup suggested. "Our work there wasn't done. We can figure out the rest afterwards, but those people still need help."

Nodding, the others started to leave. They stalled as they heard Spitelout.

"Lads," he said, "I'm…proud of you both. I really am."

The cousins smiled, then began their flight back. On their way, the lord of the Underworld was looking over his table. On it were small pieces that resembled the gods and several mortals. He acknowledged his guest with a nod of his head when another god entered.

"We actually killed one of them," Alvin commented. "It won't be easy to get that basilisk again."

"We won't need it again."

"You shouldn't have let them leave."

"Alvin, there is much more that we can do than to work so tirelessly to kill two mortals."

The sea king scowled. "I don't like them."

"You don't like Ares."

"No, and it would've been nice to watch him mope around for a while until he found a new pet. Now, he'll think he can do whatever he wants and barter his way out of it."

"He's a war god," Hades said. "Not even one who prioritizes strategy. He's a simple immortal, Alvin. We don't need to worry about him."

"And what if we do?"

"That's exactly why I made the deal that I did," the other god said, smirking. "Our dear Ares doesn't even realize he's begun a game that he can't win."

Unconvinced, Alvin grunted and turned away. "Whatever you say, Viggo."

Alvin left as the lord of the Underworld knocked over the piece which resembled Ares.

"I'm glad we're in agreement."

I am actually in the group that thinks Hades is not as bad as most stories say. (Admittedly, I don't like that he abducted Persephone because…it's wrong on so many levels, but when you compare that one crime to the millions done by his brothers, he's at least better.) That said, I couldn't resist making him Viggo! As well as being the lord of the Underworld, Hades is sometimes known as the god of wealth. Like here, Charon collects the money (obols) from the dead to transport them into the afterlife. Without one, souls were left to wander. Given how much the Grimborn brothers canonically love money, I thought this would work and I could easily keep them together. Charon is supposed to be this scary guy too, so that made me think of Ryker. He's actually not a regular god but a psychopomp, a spirit/creature/deity/etc., that escorts the dead to the afterlife. Other details like digging in Cimmeria and drinking blood can be found in "The Odyssey." Also, Cassandra was the princess of Troy. Her story is one of the saddest to me because she was cursed (by Apollo in some versions after she didn't want to be with him) to have foresight and never be believed. Despite warning Trojans that a war was coming, they thought she was insane. The Trojan War then occurred and as stated here, basically her whole family died. She was also brutally assaulted and later killed. I don't want the assault to be canon in this story since that breaks my heart too much, but she still died. Since so many relatives are gone, I imagine she wouldn't have had anyone to give her an obol. Fortunately for this version, she made a new buddy!